Artificial reef formation to shape sea waves

ABSTRACT

A method of forming artificial reefs in which a set of blocks having internal cavities full of air are interconnected in the desired shape of the artificial reef. The blocks of the set float when full of air and the thus defined reef is towed to the location of use, at which time an air valve in the upper region of each block is opened, permitting the air to escape and sew water to enter the block through an opening in a lower region. In this way the set of blocks is sunk to a designated location on the sea bed adjacent a sandy beach, forming the desired reef. Depending on the configurations of the individual blocks and of the overall shape of the reef, the invention permits both the formation of waves suitable for water sports, such as surf, windsurf and the like, and also the making of an otherwise dangerous beach safe for bathers. The reefs formed in accordance with the methods of this invention may be removed by the simultaneous filling of the blocks with compressed air through the valves and respective openings, thus expelling the sea water from the interior of the blocks which will once more rise to the surface of the sea for towing to another location for dismounting or re-use.

Present protection object is, as an Invention Privilege, an adequateequipment for temporary or fix use or installation in sand beaches, rockmassifs and wild coasts, always designed to receive ocean waviness, forocean sports practice, to reduce “tumble beaches” effects or otherpurposes.

Existing conceptions and techniques known by the state are constitutedby very expensive installations, requiring filling with earthfoundations of difficult fixation, which are not always efficient forthe proposal objectives, due to the structure fragility against seaforce impact during undertows or more strong winds. The most advancedreference is presented by patent U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,636 from Jun. 22,1999, which claims for the Australian priority and lends itself tocorroboration of alleged inconveniences of its application andperformance. Although it is of high construction cost and of difficultfixation in the bottom of the sea in not paved or resistant ground, itfacilitates its displacement, dragging in stronger currents orundertows, as mentioned before, not offering the necessary barrier orconsolidation for a determined period of time for a sports event orother facilities.

Despite its efficiency, construction of developed equipment is verysimple, based on molded concrete blocks that act as modulated elementsin the bottom of the sea, according to the planned objective or barriertype, in regular alignment or not, in artificial reefs formation capableto act in the same way of the rocks of sandstone consolidation, coralformations or of calcareous algae, or accumulation of certain associatedsea animals carapaces, generating barriers between the coast and thesea, through submerged segments of variable height, for perfect wavesformation.

The artificial reef being discussed, is made of pre-molded concreteblocks, in previously designed forms and variable format in accordancewith the installation local, the objectives and problems existing ineach situation. Such blocks, that have irregular contours section ordesigned geometric forms, have an internal hollow. This hollow is filledwith water for submersion in the installation local, which can be madein beaches, wild coasts and massifs.

To remove them it is necessary to drain the water from its hollow, whichis done by opening foreseen valves and injecting air into the hollow,allowing water expulsion and consequent floating of the blocks for themto be moved, as soon as the water draining from the internal cameras iscompleted.

These cameras format, in relation to the blocks, is also variable, asthey are designed to allow the blocks to fluctuate alone or togetherwith others, provided they are stabilized among them by grooving one toanother.

The blocks can be joined together through simple grooves, fixed on themby flaps, or separated by used rubber tires lines, acting as shockabsorbers to avoid that direct contact between them during transport andinstallation causes any type of damages to the blocks. These can beobtained in simple or cyclopean concrete in always detachable units inthe structure composition.

This subject will be better understood by the following description,including numbered references of graphic representations attached, whichillustrate and subsidy the present documentation, offered as clarifyingand non restricting items concerning blocks configuration and itsapplication or structural formation possibilities:

FIG. 1—Upper view of the basic block with water and air entrances andexits;

FIG. 2—Sectional cut view of the piece with the hollow inside showingair and water entrance and exits;

FIG. 3—Partial upper view of two blocks supplied with fixing groovesattached by mooring ropes crossed between 2 rubber tires lines;

FIG. 4—Front view of a triangular structure forming the blocks,separated by double lines of rubber tires and attached by steel cablesfixed to them, on a scissors form responsible for the formatmaintenance;

FIG. 5—Font view of an application involving an existent rock massif,with triangular structure, supplied with a line of rubber tires lined-upand attached with steel cables;

FIG. 6—View of a groove directly applied on a rock massif with blockslaterally disposed in straight formation;

FIG. 7—View of the practical application to a sand beach, with blockstriangular structure formation and consequent sea movement;

FIG. 8—View of previous similar application, involving a rock massif andmovement provoked on the sea surface;

FIG. 9—Cut view of blocks application to a wild coast with flaps fixedinto the rocky wall and attached to the structural piece in question;

FIG. 10—Lateral view of a wild coast with a sequence of superposedblocks.

As can be understood by visualizing the mentioned figures, a basicelement of the present development is a pre-molded concrete block (1),of variable and previously determined forms, with a hollow inside (2),forming an internal camera with holes for water entrance and exit (3)and closing valve (4), which is opened for compressed air injection andconsequent water draining to allow fluctuation; and kept opened for theelement submersion. The inside camera format in relation to the block isdesigned according to its use.

For structural firmness of the blocks set (1), in its differentpractical applications, and also for maintaining its stability duringtransport and coupling to each other, one or more lines of rubber tirescan separate them (6) and even fixing flaps (5), trespassed by mooringropes (7), and still can form triangular or other geometric structurestied by steel cables (8), with or without scissors (9) for maintenanceof the original format.

Applications of such blocks (1) are greatly diversified, and can involveexistent rock massifs (10), presenting forms adaptable to those, usingintermediary rubber tires (6) or being laterally fixed, through uppergroove (11) junction of the referred blocks (1), using mooring steelcables (8) in both cases, being those formations preferably triangularsettled in massifs (10) or not, dose to the waves breaking, in sandbeaches (12), modifying waves movement on the sea surface.

If using wild coasts (14), the blocks (1) can be fixed into both throughinstallation of groove pieces in each one (15), or they can besuperposed if they have sufficient weight to stay submersed and supportsea movement (13), currents, waviness or even undertows impacts.

The possibility of upper variation of the blocks (1), as well as theirequally varied format, make the waves to break along their extension ina previously foreseen form, allowing the practice of sea sports such assurf, windsurf, kite surf, etc. When installing the mentioned structurein places where there are great tide variations, height complements canbe adapted to the blocks surface to lessen undesirable effects of thissituation.

Although the above mentioned items constitute the main purpose of thepresent development, the structure can also be used in order to lessenviolent effects of waviness in specific regions, known as “tumblebeaches”, opened to the ocean without any natural protection, in orderto turn such beaches into balnearies capable to offer security with norisks to their users. This happens due to transportation of the wavesbreaking backwards, what promotes a soft arrival of the waves at theseashore, (12).

In any of the specific uses mentioned, the blocks (1) are previouslyattached among them and conducted by boat, floating plastered or by anyother way that allows their transportation until the installation place.Specialized hand labor has to be used, specially for some types ofplaces that can offer greater difficulties of access and submersion,always carried out by manipulating the air (4) and the water (3) valves,being preferably used in sand beaches (12) to receive the waves, rockmassifs (10) or wild coasts (14), always with the objective of receivingand giving the ideal form to the ocean waviness (13).

Although with the same purposes of giving an ideal form to the seawaves, several arrangements have been tested and used without showinghowever the advantages of the present development. What makes it simpleand efficient is the adaptation and installation as artificial reefs,with low cost and reduced previous studies, and the possibility of easyreversing in withdrawal process. Such disposition brings many benefits,if considered the engineering work done in “Gold Coast”, Australia, withsand bags, where the constructors had hand labor and installationequipment problems, besides the non foreseen technical and environmentaldifficulties, such as winds, undertows, etc.

Revendication

-   1—“ARTIFICIAL REEFS FORMATION TO SHAPE SEA WAVES”, characterized for    presenting basic element, including a pre-molded concrete block (1),    of variable format, having an internal hollow (2), provided with    external holes for water entrance and exit (3), and closing or    opening valves (4), responsible for the arrangement fluctuation    after compressed air injection and its submersion when filled with    water in its internal camera (2), having the possibility of being    attached or not to other similar elements, in its configuration,    with fixing grooves (5) and separators made of a line of rubber    tires (6), trespassed by mooring ropes (7), or forming triangular    structures or other, tied by steel cables (8) and intermediary    scissors (9) for maintenance of the original form.-   2—“ARTIFICIAL REEFS FORMATION TO SHAPE SEA WAVES”, characterized by    the fact that the variation of blocks upper surface (1), as well as    their format, allow the waves to break along their extension in a    foreseen established form, for sea sports practice like surf,    windsurf, kite surf, etc., with the necessary complementary height    adaptations in places where the tide is highly variable.-   313 “ARTIFICIAL REEFS FORMATION TO SHAPE SEA WAVES”, according to    Rev.1, characterized by the fact that blocks set (1) can involve    extent rock massifs (10), adapted upon them on preferably triangular    structure, or laterally fixed by a superior groove piece (11) fixed    to the massif (10), in both cases using steel mooring cables (8) or    rubber tire separators (6).-   4—“ARTIFICIAL REEFS FORMATION TO SHAPE SEA WAVES”, according to    Rev.1, characterized by the fact that blocks (1) can be fixed    through pieces installed in wild coasts (14) for inverted groove    (15), with the cooperating elements adapted to the block (1), or    superposed, always with the objective of holding back the sea    movement (13).-   5—“ARTIFICIAL REEFS FORMATION TO SHAPE SEA WAVES”, according to    Rev.1, characterized by the fact that it is used as a protection    structure in sand beaches known as “tumbled beaches”, moving the    waves breaking backwards from the seashore (12).

1-5. (canceled)
 6. A method for forming an artificial reef for shapingthe waves of the sea in which blocks are placed on the sea bed,comprising the steps of: providing a set of at least two blocks, each ofthe blocks having an internal cavity of sufficient volume to permit theblock to float, at least one entry opening with a valve for the passageof air, in an upper region of the block, and at least one opening forthe passage of sea water, in a lower region of the block; arranging theset of blocks in an interconnected relationship, with the valves closed,on a surface of the sea, in suitable positions and arrangements above alocation on the sea bed designated for receiving the artificial reef;and opening the valves in the blocks to permit the sea water to enterthe blocks in a controlled manner through the openings for the passageof sea water, with the air being expelled through the openings for air,wherein the set of blocks sinks to the sea bed, at the designatedlocation, to form the artificial reef.
 7. The method according to claim6, wherein the step of arranging the set of blocks on the surface of thesea above the designated location on the sea bed further comprisesforming the floating set of blocks at a first location on the surface ofthe sea and then towing the set of blocks to another location on thesurface of the sea above the designated location.
 8. The methodaccording to claim 6, wherein the interconnected relationship of the setof blocks includes the placement of ties between the blocks.
 9. Themethod according to claim 8, wherein the ties comprise tie rodsinterconnecting adjacent blocks.
 10. The method according to claim 8,wherein the ties include a steel cable interconnecting all the blocks.11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the blocks are separatedfrom each other by rows of tires.
 12. The method according to claim 6,wherein the set of blocks defines a structure in the configuration of anarrowhead.
 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein ends of the setof blocks are interconnected by an element appropriate to maintain thearrowhead configuration.
 14. The method according to claim 6, whereinthe blocks are formed of concrete.
 15. The method according to claim 6,wherein the set of blocks defines a structure in the configuration of anarrowhead; the blocks are separated from each other by rows of tires,the ties include a steel cable interconnecting all the blocks; and theends of the set of blocks are interconnected by an element appropriateto maintain the arrowhead configuration.
 16. A method for removing anartificial reef formed according to the method of claim 1, comprisingthe steps of: introducing compressed air into the air openings in theblocks, expelling the sea water through the sea water openings so thatthe blocks float; and towing the set of interconnected blocks to anotherlocation.
 17. An artificial reef formed according to the method of claim6.
 18. A method for forming an artificial reef comprising: providing aplurality of blocks having an interior cavity; directly connecting theplurality of blocks to each other with ties to form a set ofinterconnected blocks in an arrowhead configuration, the interconnectedblocks being separated from each other by a plurality of tires; towingthe interconnected blocks to a reef-formation location; filling theinterior cavity of each of the blocks with sea water; and sinking theinterconnected blocks to a bottom of the sea at the reef-formationlocation to form the artificial reef.
 19. The method for forming anartificial reef according to claim 18, wherein a shape of the blocks istriangular.
 20. The method for forming an artificial reef according toclaim 18, wherein the ties comprise steel cables.
 22. The method forforming an artificial reef according to claim 18, wherein each of theblocks includes a plurality of openings for the entry and exit of eitherseawater or air.
 23. An artificial reef comprising: a plurality oftriangular-shaped blocks interconnected to each other in an arrowheadconfiguration, each of the blocks comprising: an inner cavity; aplurality of openings for the passage of sea water and air into and outof the cavity, at least one of the openings being controlled by a valve;a plurality of fixing tabs for directly connecting each of the blockstogether with tie rods; and a plurality of tires arranged between eachof the blocks.
 24. The artificial reef according to claim 23, wherein anopening for the entry and exit of air is formed in a face of thetriangular-shaped block at an uppermost point of the face; and anopening for the passage of sea water is formed in the face of thetriangular-shaped block at a lowest point of the face.
 25. Theartificial reef according to claim 23, wherein the plurality of blocksis towable.